Iron, rust, and metallic deposit removal product and method of using the same

Abstract

To provide a rust removal product that does not have a strong, unpleasant odor.SOLUTION: The present invention provides a composition for removing iron deposits, rust, or metallic particles from a surface, the composition including: at least one reducing agent; at least one chelating agent that changes color upon chelation; and at least one solvent.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 526,764, filed July 14, 2023. [Background technology]

[0002] Rust removal products remove iron fallout or flakes and / or rust from surfaces such as automotive paint and clear coats. Current rust removal products use thioglycolic acid, thiolactic acid, thiomalic acid, and their salts, esters, and derivatives, such as sodium thioglycolate, ammonium thioglycolate, sodium mercaptoacetate, and mercaptoacetic acid. Thioglycolic acid is a compound that is found in the iron oxide of ferrous iron (Fe 3+ ) to ferric iron (Fe 2+ ) and chelates the ferric ion to form ferric thioglycolate, a dark red / purple compound that is clearly visible on the vehicle. However, thioglycolate contains sulfur, which gives the thioglycolate species a strong, unpleasant odor similar to rotten eggs. As a result, extreme odors and noxious fumes are known characteristics associated with these iron remover / iron fallout remover products.

[0003] There is a need in the art for rust removal products that do not have a strong, unpleasant odor, and the present disclosure fills this need. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a composition for removing iron deposits, rust or metal particles is provided, comprising: The composition comprises: (a) at least one reducing agent; (b) at least one chelating agent that changes color upon chelation; and (c) at least one solvent.

[0005] According to another aspect, a composition for removing iron deposits, rust, or metal particles from a surface is provided, comprising: The composition comprises: (a) water, (b) lactic acid, (c) 1,10-phenanthroline, (d) 2-butoxyethanol, (e) sodium metasilicate, (f) at least one preservative; (g) at least one thickening agent, and (h) at least one dye; The composition has a pH of about 5 to about 7.

[0006] In one aspect, a method for removing iron, rust and / or metal particles from a surface is provided, comprising: This method is (a) applying a composition to the surface, the composition comprising: (i) at least one reducing agent; (ii) at least one iron chelator that changes color upon chelation; and (iii) at least one solvent; (b) allowing the composition to sit on the surface for a period of time, wherein the reducing agent reduces metal, iron, or rust particles to form soluble iron species and the iron chelating agent binds to the soluble iron species in solution to form iron chelates; and (c) rinsing the composition and soluble metal chelates from the surface, thereby removing rust, iron, and / or metal particles.

[0007] In some embodiments, the reducing agent comprises a strong acid, a weak acid, a mild reducing agent, or any combination thereof, hi some embodiments, the reducing agent comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, oxalic acid, hydroxylammonium hydrochloride, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, citric acid, and any combination thereof.

[0008] In some embodiments, the chelating agent comprises a heterocyclic organic compound that changes color upon chelation. In some embodiments, the heterocyclic organic compound changes color to red upon chelation. In some embodiments, the heterocyclic organic compound changes color to pink upon chelation.

[0009] In some embodiments, the heterocyclic organic compound comprises a substituted or unsubstituted phenanthroline, a substituted or unsubstituted bipyridine, or a derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the heterocyclic organic compound comprises a 1,10-phenanthroline, a 2,2'-bipyridine, or a derivative thereof.

[0010] In some embodiments, the solvent comprises a polar protic solvent or an aprotic polar solvent, hi some embodiments, the solvent comprises water, a glycol ether, an alcohol, acetone, or any combination thereof.

[0011] In some embodiments, the composition further comprises at least one pH adjuster. In some embodiments, the pH adjuster comprises an alkaline compound. In some embodiments, the alkaline compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, potassium hydroxide, sodium metasilicate, and any combination thereof.

[0012] In some embodiments, the pH of the composition is about 3 to about 7; in some embodiments, the pH of the composition is about 5 to about 7; in some embodiments, the pH of the composition is about 5 to about 6.

[0013] In some embodiments, the composition further comprises at least one thickening agent, in some embodiments, the thickening agent comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) powder, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) powder, acrylic acid polymers, xanthan gum, and any combination thereof.

[0014] In some embodiments, the composition further comprises at least one surfactant. In some embodiments, the surfactant comprises an ionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the surfactant comprises a primary alcohol ethoxylate, a secondary alcohol ethoxylate, sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the surfactant comprises dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid.

[0015] In some embodiments, the composition further comprises at least one dye. In some embodiments, the dye changes the color of the composition without affecting the color change of the chelator upon chelation. In some embodiments, the dye changes the color of the composition to a color different from the color change of the chelator upon chelation.

[0016] In some embodiments, the composition further comprises at least one preservative, hi some embodiments, the preservative comprises a biocide.

[0017] In some embodiments, any one of the compositions described herein does not include a malodorous or noxious odor (e.g., an unpleasant odor). In some embodiments, any one of the compositions described herein does not have a strong, unpleasant, pungent odor. In some embodiments, the malodorous or noxious odor is a "rotten egg" or sulfur odor similar to hydrogen sulfide gas. In some embodiments, any one of the compositions described herein does not have an unpleasant mercaptan odor.

[0018] In some embodiments, the surfactant removes grime, dirt, or soil from the surface.

[0019] In some embodiments, the composition is applied to the surface using a spray bottle, a spray device, or by wiping the composition onto the surface. In some embodiments, the surface is a metal surface. In some embodiments, the surface has a gel coat. In some embodiments, the surface is a clear coat. In some embodiments, the surface is a surface of an object selected from the group consisting of automobiles, motorcycles, tools, furniture, appliances, fixtures, cookware, fabrics, carpets, concrete, marine vessels, boats, personal watercraft, nuts and bolts, and glass substrates. In some embodiments, the surface is an exterior or interior surface of an object.

[0020] In some embodiments, the composition is applied to a vertical surface, in some embodiments, the composition is applied to a horizontal surface, in some embodiments, the composition is applied to a surface that is not parallel to a floor.

[0021] In some embodiments, the period of time is from about 1 minute to about 1 hour.

[0022] Both the foregoing summary and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further details of the present disclosure and are not to be construed as limiting. Other objects, advantages and novel features will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] I. overview Current rust removal compositions are formulated with thioglycolic acid and its derivatives, which produce a strong, typically mercaptan-based, unpleasant and unpleasant odor that is difficult to mask and remove. Other names for thioglycolic acid include mercaptoacetic acid, thiobanic acid, thioglycolic acid, acetomercaptan, mercaptoacetic acid, 2-mercaptoacetic acid, 2-thioglycolic acid, and thioglycolic acid. The unpleasant mercaptan odor is marked by a sulfurous and acidic odor, as well as a putrid odor, combined with a burnt or scorching odor. Thioglycolic acid can decompose into other compounds such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and light mercaptans, which are very malodorous. See U.S. Patent Application No. 2022 / 0054379.

[0024] This odor is unpleasant when using compositions containing thioglycolic acid and its derivatives and is a major drawback in their use, especially in the field of rust removal. To combat this unpleasant odor, manufacturers have adopted a number of strategies, such as masking the odor of thioglycolic acid using odor masking agents or reducing the emission of H2S and / or light mercaptans that may cause the odor.

[0025] Examples of conventional strategies to combat the harmful odors associated with thioglycolic acid compositions include the use of odor masking agents of the natural substances, natural substance extracts or fragrance-based type, the use of adsorbents such as charcoal, zeolites or cyclodextrins, which allow to reduce the amount of H2S and / or light mercaptans released, and the use of specific additives such as polyphenols and metal oxides, which allow to reduce the amount of H2S and light mercaptans released. None of these solutions are ideal.

[0026] Dealing with iron particles is especially important in the automotive sector. Iron particles are often embedded in the paint that coats automobiles (e.g. on wheels and body panels) and can cause rust and other forms of corrosion if left untreated. Dissolving and removing these particles helps prevent damage to the vehicle's paint and protects its appearance. Iron particles can come from a variety of sources, including brake dust, industrial fallout and road debris. When these particles come into contact with the vehicle's surfaces, they can bond to the paint and form unsightly rust stains.

[0027] In the context of car detailing, Fe2O3 (iron(III) oxide) may refer to iron particles that are deposited on the surface of a vehicle, usually as a result of brake dust or other sources of airborne iron particles. These iron particles, if not removed in a timely manner, can cause staining and discoloration to the vehicle's paint, wheels, and other surfaces. Removing the iron particles can prevent damage to the vehicle's paint and finish.

[0028] The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for removing iron deposits, rust, or metal particles from surfaces, including but not limited to automotive surfaces. The compositions described herein do not have the unpleasant odors found in current thioglycolic acid-based formulations. The rust removal compositions of the present invention use at least a reducing agent to reduce ferric iron to soluble ferrous iron so that it can be removed from the surface, and at least one chelating agent to chelate the iron. The chelating agents used herein change color upon chelating the iron, indicating that the rust removal composition is working.

[0029] The use of rust or iron particle removal compositions that do not emit unpleasant mercaptan odors has significant advantages over prior art thioglycolic acid-based formulations. For example, the use of thioglycolic acid-based preparations may require significant ventilation and / or respiratory protection, whereas the use of the compositions described herein does not. Specific color changes can also be achieved by separating the iron chelator from the iron reducer.

[0030] II. composition The rust or ferrous particle removal compositions described herein include (a) at least one reducing agent; (b) at least one chelating agent that changes color upon chelation; and (c) comprises at least one solvent. Without wishing to limit the invention to any theory or mechanism, the reducing agent in the composition reduces the iron oxide to soluble iron species and upon chelation by the chelating agent, a color change is observed indicating the product is functioning as intended.

[0031] In some embodiments, the composition comprises about 1% to about 50% by weight of a reducing agent. In some embodiments, the composition comprises about 5% to about 45% by weight of a reducing agent. In some embodiments, the composition comprises about 10% to about 40% by weight of a reducing agent. In some embodiments, the composition comprises about 10% to about 30% by weight of a reducing agent. In some embodiments, the composition comprises about 15% to about 25% by weight of a reducing agent.

[0032] In some embodiments, the composition comprises about 1%, about 5%, about 10%, about 15%, about 20%, about 25%, about 30%, about 35%, about 40%, about 45%, or about 50% by weight of a reducing agent, hi some embodiments, the composition comprises about 20% by weight of a reducing agent.

[0033] In some embodiments, the composition comprises about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a chelating agent. In some embodiments, the composition comprises about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of a chelating agent. In some embodiments, the composition comprises about 0.1% to about 4% by weight of a chelating agent. In some embodiments, the composition comprises about 0.1% to about 3% by weight of a chelating agent. In some embodiments, the composition comprises about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of a chelating agent. In some embodiments, the composition comprises about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of a chelating agent. In some embodiments, the composition comprises about 0.1% to about 0.5% by weight of a chelating agent.

[0034] In some embodiments, the composition comprises about 0.01%, about 0.1%, about 0.25%, about 0.5%, about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, or about 5% by weight of a chelating agent, hi some embodiments, the composition comprises about 0.25% by weight of a chelating agent.

[0035] In some embodiments, the composition further comprises a surfactant and a solvent to provide cleaning power to remove dirt and grime from the surface. In some embodiments, the surfactant comprises an ionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the ionic surfactant comprises a cationic surfactant and / or an anionic surfactant. In some embodiments, the surfactant comprises a primary alcohol ethoxylate, a secondary alcohol ethoxylate, sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the surfactant comprises dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid.

[0036] In some embodiments, the solvent comprises a polar protic solvent or an aprotic polar solvent. In some embodiments, the solvent comprises water, a glycol ether, an alcohol, acetone, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the solvent comprises water. In some embodiments, the solvent comprises 2-butoxyethanol. In some embodiments, the solvent comprises water and 2-butoxyethanol.

[0037] In some embodiments, the reducing agent comprises a strong acid, a weak acid, a mild reducing agent, or any combination thereof.Suitable reducing agents that can be used in the compositions described herein include, but are not limited to, lactic acid, oxalic acid, hydroxylammonium hydrochloride, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, citric acid, and any combination thereof.In some embodiments, the reducing agent is lactic acid.One advantage of using lactic acid in the compositions of the present invention is that it is less toxic and less dangerous than thioglycolic acid.

[0038] In some embodiments, the chelating agent comprises a heterocyclic organic compound. In some embodiments, the chelating agent acts as an indicator that the product is removing iron deposits, rust, or metal particles. The heterocyclic organic compound may turn red upon chelation. The heterocyclic organic compound may turn pink upon chelation.

[0039] In some embodiments, the heterocyclic organic compound comprises a substituted or unsubstituted phenanthroline, a substituted or unsubstituted bipyridine, or a derivative thereof. As used herein, "substituted" or "derivatives thereof" may refer to a compound that includes one or more alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, halo, hydroxyl, oxy, alkoxy, amino, ester, or carboxyl substituents. In some embodiments, the heterocyclic organic compound is 1,10-phenanthroline.

[0040] In some embodiments, the composition further comprises at least one dye. Dyes suitable for use in the composition are inert and do not interact or react with any of the components of the composition. In some embodiments, the dye changes the color of the composition without affecting the color change of the chelator upon chelation. In some embodiments, the dye changes the color of the composition to a color different from the color change of the chelator upon chelation. In some embodiments, the dye is a blue dye or a turquoise dye. Dyes suitable for use in the composition include, but are not limited to, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Blue No. 2, FD&C Blue No. 4, Acid Blue 1, and Orcoterge Turquoise DG-ST.

[0041] In some embodiments, the pH of the composition is about 3 to about 7; in some embodiments, the pH of the composition is about 5 to about 7; in some embodiments, the pH of the composition is about 5 to about 6; in some embodiments, the pH of the composition is about 3, about 4, about 5, about 6, or about 7.

[0042] At least one pH adjusting agent can be used to adjust pH. In some embodiments, the pH adjusting agent comprises an alkaline compound. Suitable alkaline compounds for use in the composition include, but are not limited to, sodium bicarbonate, potassium hydroxide, sodium metasilicate, and any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the pH adjusting agent comprises sodium metasilicate.

[0043] Additionally, the viscosity of the composition may be adjusted to improve the tack or adhesion of the composition to the surface and to prevent excess runoff of the sprayed or applied product. Any thickener suitable for weakly acidic solutions may be used, including, for example, hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) powder, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) powder, acrylic acid polymers, xanthan gum, and any combination thereof.

[0044] In some embodiments, the composition further comprises a preservative. In some embodiments, the preservative is a biocide. Suitable preservatives include, but are not limited to, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, DMDM ​​hydantoin, methylisothiazolinone, Kathon-LX 1.5, Nuosept 95, diazolidinyl urea, and parabens.

[0045] In some embodiments, the composition comprises: (a) water, (b) lactic acid, (c) 1,10-phenanthroline, (d) 2-butoxyethanol, (e) Sodium metasilicate (f) at least one preservative; (g) at least one thickening agent, and (h) comprises at least one dye. Further, the composition may have a pH of about 5 to about 7.

[0046] The compositions of the present invention do not exhibit the strong, unpleasant, irritating, mercaptan odors present in current rust removal compositions. In some embodiments, the compositions do not have a foul or noxious odor. In some embodiments, the compositions do not emit odors that can irritate the nose and / or throat, such as "rotten egg" odors, mercaptan odors, or sulfur odors. In some embodiments, the compositions do not include thioglycolic acid or salts thereof. In some embodiments, the compositions include less than about 0.005 ppm, less than about 0.004 ppm, less than about 0.003 ppm, less than about 0.002 ppm, less than about 0.001 ppm, or less than about 0.0005 ppm of mercaptans.

[0047] III. method To prepare the composition, the ingredients are mixed, making sure all solids are dissolved.

[0048] The compositions described herein are used to remove iron, rust and / or metal particles from a surface. In some embodiments, a method for removing iron, rust and / or metal particles from a surface includes: (a) applying any one of the compositions described herein to a surface; (b) allowing the mixture to stand on a surface for a period of time, wherein the reducing agent reduces metal, iron, or rust particles to form soluble iron species, and the chelating agent binds to the soluble iron species in solution to form iron chelates; and (c) rinsing or removing the mixture and the iron chelate from the surface, thereby removing rust, iron, and / or metal particles from the surface.

[0049] The composition can be applied to a surface in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, spraying with a trigger bottle or spray device, or brushed, rolled, or wiped onto the surface.

[0050] In some embodiments, the surface is fabric, concrete, marble, other types of stone and masonry, plastic, copper, iron, rubber, aluminum, steel, brick, stucco, chrome, metal, porcelain, fiberglass, colorfast fabric, carpet, or iron-containing surfaces. The surface can be a surface of an object selected from the group consisting of automobiles, motorcycles, tools, furniture, appliances, fixtures, cookware, fabrics, carpets, concrete, marine, boats, personal watercraft, nuts & bolts, glass substrates, automotive metal parts, household metal parts, industrial metal parts, tractors, antiques, farm equipment & implements, trailers and hitches, marine applications, septic systems and plumbing, and household surfaces. In some embodiments, the surface is a metal surface. In some embodiments, the surface has a gel coat. In some embodiments, the surface is a clear coat. In some embodiments, the surface is an exterior or interior surface of an object. In some embodiments, the surface is an automobile.

[0051] In some embodiments, the composition is left on the surface for a period of time ranging from about 1 minute to about 1 hour, hi some embodiments, the composition is left on the surface for about 1 minute, about 5 minutes, about 10 minutes, about 15 minutes, about 20 minutes, about 30 minutes, about 40 minutes, about 50 minutes, or about 60 minutes.

[0052] IV. definition As used herein, "about" is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art and will vary to some extent depending on the context in which it is used. If there are uses of the term that are not clear to persons of ordinary skill in the art, "about" will mean up to plus or minus 10% of the particular term, given the context in which it is used.

[0053] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar reference words in the context of describing elements (particularly in the context of the claims below) is intended to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise stated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The recitation of ranges of values ​​herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of individually referring to each separate value falling within the range, and each separate value is incorporated herein as if set forth individually herein, unless otherwise stated herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order, unless otherwise stated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Any examples provided herein, or the use of exemplary language (e.g., "such as"), are intended merely to better illustrate the embodiments and do not limit the scope of the claims, unless otherwise stated. No language in this specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as required.

[0054] Various embodiments are described below. It should be noted that the specific embodiments are not intended as exhaustive descriptions or limitations to the broad aspects discussed herein. An aspect described with a specific embodiment is not necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practiced with any other embodiment.

[0055] The invention thus generally described will be more readily understood by reference to the following examples, which are provided by way of illustration and are not intended to limit the invention. EXAMPLES

[0056] While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes and modifications can be made therein in accordance with the ordinary skill of those skilled in the art without departing from the technology in its broader aspects as defined in the following claims.

[0057] Example 1 One embodiment of the rust removal composition includes 50-70% by weight water, 15-20% by weight lactic acid, 0.01-0.5% by weight 1,10 phenanthroline, 1-5% by weight linear alcohol ethoxylate, 1-5% by weight sodium laureth sulfate, 1-5% by weight dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, 1-5% by weight Mackam CBS 50G, 1-5% by weight Glycol Ether DB, 0.001-0.1% by weight hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, 0.001-0.1% by weight sodium metasilicate, 0.001-0.1% by weight Nuosept 95, and 0.0001-0.1% by weight Orcoterge Turquoise DG-ST.

[0058] Example 2 The rust removal composition of Example 1 may be used to remove rust from an automobile surface. The composition is sprayed onto the automobile surface and allowed to stand for approximately one hour. During this time, the lactic acid reduces the iron (III) in the rust to iron (II) and the 1,10 phenanthroline combines with the iron (II) to form an iron chelate. During this time, a color change occurs, indicating that the 1,10 phenanthroline has combined with the iron (II) to form a red compound. After one hour, the composition is rinsed from the automobile surface and no malodorous or unpleasant odor is present from the composition.

[0059] The embodiments illustratively described herein may be suitably implemented with any element or elements, limitations or limitations not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, the terms "comprising," "including," "containing," and the like, are intended to be interpreted broadly without limitation. Furthermore, the terms and expressions employed herein are used as terms of description and are not intended to be limiting, and the use of such terms and expressions is not intended to exclude equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but is recognized to be subject to various modifications within the scope of the claimed technology. Furthermore, the term "consisting essentially of" is understood to include the elements specifically described and additional elements that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed technology. The term "consisting of" is intended to exclude elements not specified.

[0060] The present disclosure is not limited in terms of the specific embodiments described in this application. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, many modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. In addition to those enumerated herein, functionally equivalent methods and compositions within the scope of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to specific methods, reagents, compounds, or compositions, which may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

[0061] Additionally, when features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of a Markush group, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also described thereby in terms of any individual members or subgroups of members of the Markush group.

[0062] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, for all purposes, particularly in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein encompass all possible subranges and combinations thereof. Any recited range can be readily recognized as fully descriptive and allowing the same range to be broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third, upper third, etc. Also, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, all expressions such as "up to," "at least," "greater than," "less than," etc. refer to ranges that are inclusive of the numbers recited and can then be broken down into subranges as described above. Finally, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, ranges constitute individual members.

[0063] All publications, patent applications, issued patents, and other documents referenced herein are incorporated by reference herein as if each individual publication, patent application, issued patent, or other document was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety. Definitions contained in the documents incorporated by reference are excluded to the extent that they conflict with definitions in this disclosure.

[0064] Other embodiments are within the following claims.

Claims

1. 1. A composition for removing iron deposits, rust or metal particles, comprising: (a) at least one reducing agent; (b) at least one chelating agent that changes color upon chelation; (c) at least one solvent.

2. The composition of claim 1 further comprising at least one pH adjuster.

3. The composition of claim 1 or 2, further comprising at least one thickening agent.

4. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising at least one surfactant.

5. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising at least one dye.

6. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising at least one preservative.

7. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the reducing agent comprises a strong acid, a weak acid, a mild reducing agent, or any combination thereof.

8. 8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the reducing agent comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, oxalic acid, hydroxylammonium hydrochloride, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, citric acid, and any combination thereof.

9. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the chelating agent comprises a heterocyclic organic compound that changes color upon chelation.

10. 10. The composition of claim 9, wherein the heterocyclic organic compound turns red upon chelation.

11. 11. The composition of claim 9 or 10, wherein the heterocyclic organic compound turns pink upon chelation.

12. The composition according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the heterocyclic organic compound comprises a substituted or unsubstituted phenanthroline, a substituted or unsubstituted bipyridine, or a derivative thereof.

13. The composition according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the heterocyclic organic compound comprises 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2'-bipyridine, or a derivative thereof.

14. The composition according to any one of claims 2 to 13, wherein the pH adjuster comprises an alkaline compound.

15. 15. The composition of claim 14, wherein the alkaline compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, potassium hydroxide, sodium metasilicate, and any combination thereof.

16. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the pH of the composition is from about 3 to about 7.

17. The composition of claim 16, wherein the pH of the composition is from about 5 to about 7.

18. The composition of claim 16 or 17, wherein the pH of the composition is from about 5 to about 6.

19. The composition of any one of claims 4 to 18, wherein the surfactant comprises an ionic surfactant, a non-ionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, or any combination thereof.

20. 20. The composition of any one of claims 4 to 19, wherein the surfactant comprises a primary alcohol ethoxylate, a secondary alcohol ethoxylate, sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, or any combination thereof.

21. The composition of any one of claims 4 to 20, wherein the surfactant comprises dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid.

22. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the solvent comprises a polar protic solvent or an aprotic polar solvent.

23. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the solvent comprises water, a glycol ether, an alcohol, acetone, or any combination thereof.

24. 24. The composition of any one of claims 3 to 23, wherein the thickening agent comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) powder, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) powder, acrylic acid polymers, xanthan gum, and any combination thereof.

25. The composition of any one of claims 5 to 24, wherein the dye changes the color of the composition without affecting the color change of the chelating agent upon chelation.

26. The composition of any one of claims 5 to 25, wherein the dye changes the color of the composition to a color different from the color change of the chelating agent upon chelation.

27. The composition of any one of claims 6 to 26, wherein the preservative comprises a biocide.

28. 1. A composition for removing iron deposits, rust, or metal particles, comprising: (a) water, (b) lactic acid, (c) 1,10-phenanthroline, (d) 2-butoxyethanol, (e) sodium metasilicate, (f) at least one preservative; (g) at least one thickening agent, and (h) at least one dye; The composition has a pH of about 5 to about 7.

29. 30. The composition of claim 28, wherein the at least one thickening agent is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) powder, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) powder, acrylic acid polymers, xanthan gum, and any combination thereof.

30. 30. The composition of claim 28 or 29, further comprising at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of primary alcohol ethoxylates, secondary alcohol ethoxylates, dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, and any combination thereof.

31. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein the composition is free of malodour.

32. 32. The composition of claim 31, wherein the composition does not have a strong, unpleasant, pungent odor.

33. 33. The composition of claim 32, wherein the composition does not emit an odor that may irritate the nose and / or throat.

34. 34. The composition of claim 33, wherein the malodor is a "rotten egg" odor or a sulfur odor.

35. 35. The composition of claim 34, wherein the composition is free of unpleasant mercaptan odors.

36. 1. A method for removing iron, rust and / or metal particles from a surface, comprising: (a) applying said composition to said surface, said composition comprising: (i) at least one reducing agent (ii) at least one chelating agent that changes color upon chelation; (iii) at least one solvent, and (b) allowing the composition to sit on the surface for a period of time, wherein the reducing agent reduces metal, iron, or rust particles to form soluble iron species, and the chelating agent binds to the soluble iron species in solution to form an iron chelate; and (c) rinsing the composition and the iron chelate from the surface, thereby removing rust, iron, and / or metal particles from the surface.

37. 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the composition further comprises at least one thickening agent.

38. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the thickening agent is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) powder, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) powder, acrylic acid polymers, xanthan gum, and any combination thereof.

39. The method of any one of claims 36 to 38, wherein the composition further comprises at least one surfactant.

40. 40. The method of claim 39, wherein the surfactant removes grime, dirt, or soil from the surface.

41. 41. The method of claim 39 or 40, wherein the at least one surfactant is selected from the group consisting of primary alcohol ethoxylates, secondary alcohol ethoxylates, dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, and any combination thereof.

42. The method of any one of claims 36 to 41, wherein the composition has a pH of about 5 to about 7.

43. The method of any one of claims 36 to 42, wherein the composition further comprises a preservative.

44. The method of any one of claims 36 to 43, wherein the composition is applied to the surface using a spray bottle, a spray device, or by wiping the composition onto the surface.

45. A method according to any one of claims 36 to 44, wherein the surface is a metal surface.

46. A method according to any one of claims 36 to 44, wherein the surface comprises a gel coat.

47. The method of any one of claims 36 to 44, wherein the surface is a clear coat.

48. 45. The method of any one of claims 36 to 44, wherein the surface is a surface of an object selected from the group consisting of automobiles, motorcycles, tools, furniture, appliances, fixtures, cookware, fabrics, carpets, concrete, marine vessels, boats, personal watercraft, nuts and bolts, and glass substrates.

49. 49. The method of claim 48, wherein the surface is an exterior or interior surface of an object.

50. 50. The method of any one of claims 36 to 49, wherein the period of time is from about 1 minute to about 1 hour.